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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 MACON MAGAZINE | 31 On the Wilder side Pilar Wilder dances to her own rhythm By Traci Burns | Photography by Matt Odom P ilar Wilder has a vivid memory from the day of her high school graduation – at a post-ceremony party, her godfather strolled up and asked her, "So, what are you going to do now?" in earshot of a large crowd. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt the truth welling up within her; at the time, she'd been planning to study medicine at Wesleyan College, but deep down, she knew her true passion lay elsewhere. "I'm gonna be a dancer," she said. Then, silence. The chatter and clatter of the party seemed to dramatically pause for a moment in the wake of her honest admission. All the eyes in the room landed on her. She felt sheepish but a little liberated and powerful at the same time. Her godfather chuckled. "No, baby, I meant what are you gonna do for a living?" Fast-forward to today: For many people, Pilar Wilder's name is synonymous with dance in Middle Georgia, and her studio, Hayiya Dance Theatre, is heading toward its 16th anniversary and preparing to expand into a larger space in the new year. Wilder is a radiant, reassuring presence with a lovely smile, an ebullient, enthusiastic way of speaking, and an incredibly charming habit of peppering her conversation with "Jinkies!" a la Velma from "Scooby- Doo." And she's living proof that listening to your inner voice, following your passion, and doing what you love can lead to a successful career – but not without a lot of hard work and dedication. "I can't say it's been easy, because nothing worth having is easy, but the good so far outweighs the bad," Wilder said. "I have support, and this is the path God wants me on, so I'm comfortable. But, like I tell my students, always push yourself to do something different and bigger and better. I never want to be complacent in what I'm doing." Wilder took her first dance class – ballet – at age 5 in her hometown of Augusta. She grew up wanting to be a pediatric surgeon and spent her teenage years at a medical high school designed to prepare students for healthcare careers. As a freshman, she excitedly told her mother about the new African dance club she'd discovered; by the next week, she was part of the club. Before the month was over, she'd become a member of the ABATSU Dance Company, where she had her first experiences with the rhythmic, ritual movements that would soon become her life's work. While in the 11th grade, Wilder had